Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, iPod touch
First Look: Fastlane Street Racing
When I showed this to my brother he remarked that it looked almost as good as any PSP game. Featuring a ton of cars, tracks and simple gameplay, Fastlane Street Racing (App Store link) is the best racer I've played on the iPhone. Each track is incredibly detailed and appears very large to boot. If there's only one weak point it's the audio. While passable, the engine noises could possibly be better. That said, they are dynamic (and change if you go into a tunnel or change speed, etc.) and it's likely this was the only way to make them so.The key to the game is drifting -- either turning so your tires squeal and engine noise changes, or tapping the brakes as you turn. Each car handles a bit differently, and you will find some are better suited to how you steer. But once you get the hang of drifting, there's just enough challenge on each level to keep you coming back for more. As always, the gameplay balance is what makes a game replayable and fun over time. In other words: if it is just enough of a challenge to keep you playing and unlocking new stuff, it's probably balanced well. This is tricky, but Fastlane has done a great job here. It's currently available on the store for $5.99, and that's a good price for this much game. Check out the gallery for all the locked items plus a bunch of in-game shots. Or skip to the video and watch the fun.
Here's the video, but you'll have to forgive my sloppy gameplay. I kept making sure I was in frame and wound up hitting the side of the track. Actual gameplay is a bit tighter.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jamma said 2:21PM on 11-18-2008
RIDDDDDGGGGGGGGGGGE RAAAAACCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
Looks very similar to , and is probably just as good as the PSP game. and it's cheaper that Asphalt, which I was, up until now, tempted to buy
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Jamma said 2:25PM on 11-18-2008
While we are on the topic of games, anyone remember that really good looking space shooter game that was shown off at the roadmap event back in March?
What happened to it? Is it available, and if so, what is it called?
steve said 5:27PM on 11-18-2008
are you talking about clusterball? If so, its $6.99
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294395428&mt=8
ff said 7:07PM on 11-18-2008
In terms of looks, it is pretty impressive for the iPhone. PSP-like graphics? Upon closer examination of the screens, I discovered it is definitely not PSP quality. In fact, it is kind of far from it. Around the edge of objects and it looks a bit jagged as well. It is definitely getting there though.
required said 2:26PM on 11-18-2008
Definitely way below the quality of a PSP game. Seriously. Compare to say Ridge Racer or Burnout Legends from three years ago. Not that it looks bad just that it looks more akin to a DS game.
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balls said 2:46PM on 11-18-2008
Your brother needs surgery for his cataracts.
Seriously, buy a PSP and compare the games to the iphone games.
Iphone games are just prettier, touch-enabled flash games.
The games on the iphone have yet to compare to the mediocre games of from the NES, let alone the mediocre games from the DS or PSP.
I'm all for competition in markets, but apple's RDF can't fool gamers.
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Greg said 2:58PM on 11-18-2008
"Iphone games are just prettier, touch-enabled flash games."
Oh, the irony..
Sour Apples said 3:29PM on 11-18-2008
No, gamers are quite good at fooling themselves.
VanillaSpice said 8:29PM on 11-18-2008
You need surgery for your brain. If you think that iPhone games are equal to NES games, then you either a) have never seen an iPhone game, or b) have never seen an NES game.
You do realise also that flash on any half-modern desktop has several orders of magnitude more power available to it than a NES system? Of course not, your comment reveals that you clearly do not understand graphics power. You say the iPhone = NES and then iPhone = flash, well, it can't, because NES ≠ flash.
Plenty of devs have opined that the iPhone's power is on a par with the PSP. It is not uncommon to hear praise from gamers (real ones, not those befuddled by system comparisons) regarding the iPhone's graphics. It is not just his brother making the comparison.
balls said 8:52PM on 11-18-2008
@VanillaSpice: "You need surgery for your brain."
Uh-huh.
Perhaps you ought to take a few classes in reading comprehension before you dole out the medical advice.
I will help you (and any other retards with internet access) by breaking down my post.
First: PSP games look much better.
Second: Iphone games at their core are prettier touch-enabled flash games.
Third: Iphone hasn't come to the level of gaming achieved by mediocre NES games.
Notice nowhere in that third point did I mention anything about graphics capabilities.
Was there any mention on how the PSP, DS, or NES for that matter, had better specifications than the Iphone?
The point: GRAPHICS alone do not make for good games.
I do concede one point: Apple was able to convince at least one dumbshit (**COUGH**VanillaSpice**COUGH**) that the iPhone is the next eveloution in handheld gaming.
NewJorg said 2:58PM on 11-18-2008
Actually, you CAN back up. You just need to hold the brake button or press it several times to kick it in... something like that. Haven't quite had the time to figure it out yet. But there is a REVERSE gear for sure. Cheers.
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nxiv said 3:12PM on 11-18-2008
asphalt4 is better.
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ack154 said 4:04PM on 11-18-2008
I would definitely rather spend the $10 on Asphalt than this (and have). The graphics really look awful. I don't have a PSP at the moment, but if a PSP is this bad, I'll never want one.
The driving dynamics might be interesting or different, but it looks terrible in every shot. I don't know if I would bother.
mrsteveman1 said 5:28PM on 11-18-2008
I have both of them now, and i find fastlane more fun to play because the accelerometer controls actually work, and i do think the graphics on fastlane are better.
Jason said 3:50PM on 11-18-2008
Are you kidding me, in some of the screens in the gallery this game looks worse than some DS games I've played. Certainly doesn't look as good as a PSP game. The problem I have with almost all iPhone games is controls. I like to have the tactile feed back of real buttons and I hate accelerometer controls. Seriously though, when you steer your car, does the whole world move along with your steering wheel? No.
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iCraze said 5:28PM on 11-18-2008
I love finding new apps like this...if any of you gamers are also into facebook and twitter like me, take a minute and check out a new, free iPhone application they called Ziibii, which gives us iPhone users a way of staying in-touch and in-the-loop with friends, photos and basically the world. Check it out for free via the iTunes App Store.
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Sour Apples said 5:56PM on 11-18-2008
These screenshots don't really do the game justice. I have the game and it really looks a lot better than you would think from these screens. Maybe not quite PSP quality but definitely way better that anything you would expect to see on a DS.
...and yes, if have enough to drink the whole world moves along with your steering wheel.
Ethan said 6:12PM on 11-18-2008
It looks shiny but some of us can see past that to the rubbishness.
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Tim said 9:44PM on 11-18-2008
If you paid $5.99 for the game, why are there locked options?
Unless you were playing a demo version and don't make it clear to your audience.. Cos I'd rather try a demo first before I fork over any money.
I'm all about the demos first.
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Erika said 1:20AM on 11-19-2008
A flash game. I don't think iPhone supports flash, I't can't right now.
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